Electric-motor controller.



-N0- 819,563. 7 PATENTED MAY 1, 1906' J. B. LINN.

ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 1, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor:

John B.Linn,

I Atty No. 819,563. PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

J. B. LINN. ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLIGATION FILED MAILI, 1902.

3SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

I nve nCor': Joh B.Li nn, IAMA Wifinessesi PATEiITED MAY. 1, 1906.

J. B. LINN.

ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MALI, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lnvenior'" John B. inn, b3 I tp'y.

Wmnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

JOHN BRANDON LINN, OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

Application'filed March 1, 1902. Serial No. 96,211.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JoHN BRANDON LINN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county 'of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Im rovements in E1ectric-MotorControllers, 0 which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controllers for electricmotors; and its objectis to render such apparatus morecompact, cheaper in cost of manufacture,and the arts thereof readily accessible and replaceab e.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel arrangementof contacts, as will appear from the following description,

claims, and accompanying drawings.

I have chosen to illustrate my inventionas applied to .a controller forregulating 'Y-con-v nected three-phase induction-motors inwhich theregulation is effected by alternately connectin the su ply-conductors tothe free ends 0 the Win ings and to the middle points of the windings,the free ends in the latter case being connected together. Applied to aproperly-wound motor this arrangement operates to change the number ofpoles which for well-known reasons causes a change in speed. The schemeof windin I have referred to will be explained later 111 order thatapplication of my invention may be made clear; but it is to beunderstood that the wind: ing itself is not my invention, and I do notclaim it.

Referring to the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is an external view ofa control er embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asection, on an enlargedscale, on line y y of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line a: w of Figs. 1 and 2, V

drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2.. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,,and 13 are detail views of parts, Figs. 4, 5, 8, 10, and 11 being viewsof the same objects as shown in Figs. 4, 7, 9, 11, and 13, respectively,but at right angles to the views there shown. Fig. 14 is a diagrammaticillustration of my controller and the motor-"windings and connectionswherein the contacts of the controller are considered as developed upona plane surface, the circles indicating stationary and the rectanglesmovable-contacts. Figs. 15 and 16 are diagrams showing a development ona lane surface of the motor-windings in detai the two figures showingthe windings and connections in the two operative positions of thecontroller. The relative directions oft-he currents in the windings areindicated by the arrow-heads. I

Referring to Fi s. 1, 2, and 3, O and C are shells of semicircu arsection forming thecontroller-casing and cooperating to formbearings'for shaft R. The shell-C hasa neck M, through which conductorsenter the controller, and the two shells are secured to ether by screws8. The whole is arranged or attachment to a support, as L. Rigidly fixedto shaft R by pin p is star-wheel A, having a hexagonal pro ection h.Adapted to enga c with the notches of wheel A is detentT, which held inengagement by spring 0. Upon shaft R insulating-sleeve b is placed, andupon this sleeve the contacts and insulation of the movable member arebuilt up in the following manner:

The insulating-piece E, of vulcanite or other suitable material, whichis shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, is placed upon theshaft so that itshexagonal'recess 1 receives the hexagonal projection from star-wheel A.From the opposite side of piece E extends a semihexagonal projection 1..Two c0nducting-pieces, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, having seat parts,asd, vinclosing a hexagonal opening, and offset contacting portionsf,projecting radially therefrom, are threaded upon shaft R in such mannerthat parts d ome into-close contact with each'other, while portions fare directly opposite each other'and separated, as will be seen by aninspection of contacts D, D, D, F, and F of Figs. 2 and 3. The hexagonalopenings in the seat parts of the conducting-pieces are of-suchdimensions that a clearance is formed between the pieces and the shaftor the insulating-sleeve b, which surrounds the shaft. Into thisclearance the projection '11, extending from piece E, enters when theconductin -pieoes are in position. An insulatingpiece a as shown indetail in Figs. 6 and 7, is then threaded upon the shaft. This piece hasa projection on each side which is similar to projection i from piece E,and when in position one of said projections cooperates with projectioni to form a hexagonal body, whlch entirely fills the clearance withinthe conducting-pieces and forms a locking-seat for those. piecesthat is,relative movement between the pieces and their insulating-seat isprevented-and this by the e06 crating forms of the conducting-pieces antheir seats without the aid of any auxiliary securing devices, as pins,keys, &c. Piece G being in position, two conducting-pieces, as shown inFigs. 12 and 13, are threaded on the shaft. These pieces are similar tothat shown in Figs. and 11, except that each of the pieces in questionhas one radial projection instead of two and are secured in position ina manner precisely similar to that described in connection with thepreceding pair of conductin -pieces. This process of building up by aternating pairs of conductingpieces with insulating-pieces, as G, iscontinued, and the pairs of conducting-pieces are formed alternately ofpieces having one and two radial projections until there are three airsforming two contacts and two pairs ormin one contact each, care beingtaken throughout that the contacts bear proper angular relations to eachother. This relation will be readily understood from the description inconnection with Fig. 14, which will shortly follow. The requiredcontacts being in place, an insulating-piece K, -as shown in Figs. 8 and9, is threaded upon shaft R. This piece is similar to piece G, (shown in'Figs. 6 and 7,) except that it has the semihexagonal rojection upon oneside only, the other side eing plane. It is so placed upon the shaftthat its projection fills the clearance within the last pair ofcontact-pieces. Against its plane face is forced washer w, by means ofnut a turning upon a thread on shaft R, and the whole structure is thusbound firmly together. While the contacts, as stated, are required inthe controller used in illustration, it is evident that an indefinitenumber of contacts may be formed by continuing the building up asdescribed. The number of contacts per pair of conducting-pieces may bemade any that is desired by providing conducting-pieces having therequisite number of radial projections, and the contacts may be arrangedto have any desired angular relations.

The conducting-pieces may .be stamped from sheet metal and theinsulating-pieces molded, thus securing a low cost of production, and itis to be noted that the lockingseat is not necessarily of the form of ahexagon or even of any polygon. It may, on the contrary, be of anysuitable form, the opening in the conducting-pieces in each casecorresponding in form to that decided upon for their seats.

The most convenient location for the stationary contacts is upon thatside of the controller where the entrance for the conductors issituated. I therefore bridge this entrance with an insulating-shell U,which conforms to the controllencasing and is secured thereto by screwsor other convenient means. Apertures m in shell U permit the entrance ofthe conductors to the interior of the controller. Mounted upon theinsulating-shell are the staresilience of the contacts themselves.

tionary contacts O O,P P, andQng", Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which are reciselysimi ar and are, referring to contact by way of illus tration,constructed of a U-shaped piece 12, inclosing a block a, of conducting'material, to whichthe conductors may be secured by screws y, and thewhole is secured to shell U by screws 1, which pass through piece '0 andenter block a.

In order that the interior of the controller may be as secure aspossible against exterior communication and to provide additionalinsulation for the conductors and also to take 11 some of the strain uon the conductors w ch otherwise would fa 1 upon the contacts to whichthe were connected, I place within the neck a p iable insulating-sleeveg, havin inclined end faces. Within the neck adapted to bear against oneinclined end of the sleeve is an inclined shoulder 2 The other end ofthe sleeve bears against a similarly-inclined face of a washer is, andagainst the opposite face of said washer bears nut u. The conductorsbeing threaded through nut 11., sleeve 9, and washer is and fastened totheir respective contacts, the nut may be forced against the washer bymeans of a wrench, when sleeve 9 will be forced toward the center of theneck and against the conductors.

Inspection of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 14 will show that both the stationaryand movable contacts are arranged in rows parallel to the axis of themovable portion, and the three steps of the controller I have showncorrespond to the three notches of the star-wheel. In the off positionthe detent would be in engagement with the right-hand notch, Fig. 3, andmovable contact D would be in engage'ment with stationary contact P.Simi larly the movable contacts of the row containing D would be inengagement with stationary contacts in which P is situated. In

the next position of the controller, as shown in Fig. 3, the row ofmovable c'ontacts containing D move into contact with the row ofstationary contacts containing 0, and the row of movable contactscontaining contact II move into engagement with the stationary rowcontaining contact P. It has been seen that the contacts D and H areconnected and other contacts of the rows in which they lie are similarlyconnected. The stationary contacts O and P are therefore electricallyconnected, and the corresponding contacts of the two rows containingthem are connected in a similar manner. The ananner in which the movableand stationary contacts have up to this time been in engagement will beseen by reference to Fig. 2, where it will be noticed that the separatedends of a movable contact enter between the upright ortions of astationary contact and are iield against each other by virtue of thelateral In the succeeding and last position contacts of the rowscontaining and II will engage with the contacts ofnrows containing QandQ, respectively, thereby"connecting correspending contactsolthose rowsin ainanner as already described with reference to the rows containing 0in contact with P and also withthe adjacent contact inthe row with 1Other contacts in the row with F conncct'together the adjacent sides ofthe different contacts, so that all those in 'the row with Pareconnected togethe'r. The method ofmalnngcontactbetween rows contanl ngFand P dnl'ers from that in the other cases, in that each movable contactis entered 1 between the upright 'pieces of adjacent stationarycontact'sinstead of between the uprightpiecesof one contact. This willbe readily understood if: we consider contact F in Fig. 2 as inoveduntilsit is in contact withthe adjacent upright pieces of contacts 0;and O. with the dimensions shown the insulatingpartitions "t, t,%and tare in the way of corn tacts F and F; but it is to be noticed that thisis-avoided by partially cutting away the partitions, as shown at theright of Fig. 3.

Thisis sufficient in the case illustrated, as the movable contacts inquestion do not move beyond the first row of stationary contacts.

Referring to Figs. 14, .15, and 16, B repre.

sents the controller and W the motor windings. ContactsF and F, whichact to conn'ect the contacts of a row together, are rep-v resented inthe diagram by rectanglel, which illustrates the performanceof the samefunction'. The rows of movable contacts D D and H H are connectedtogether by con- 23, and 24; Bis represented as inthe off position, andthe contacts D D D are in engagement with contacts P P P" on line 19.19.. In the next or first operative poply-conductor 13 circuit 20 20and 21 21 lmove sition contacts D. D D come ment with stationarycontacts and the movable contacts previously on lines until theylie'along lines 19 19 and 20 20, respectively. Circuitscan now be tracedfrom supplyeonductors 11 to contact 0, thence through contact D,conductor 24, contact H, coninto 'engage' 5 thence through lead 5windingK to junction 6, thence through winding K, to junction 1. in asimilar, way circuit may be traced from supply-conductor :12 throughcontact 0, contact D, conductor 23, contact H, contact P, and conductor-15 to trminal of motor 3*, thence through lead 3* and winding K, to"junctions, thence through winding Kl to junction 1. Also from supcan, betraced through contact 0, contact D, conductor 22, contact ll, contactP, and conductor 14 to and P; Contact F comes I winding K, tojunction 1. It will be observed that the winding for each phase isdivided into two equal parts which in the position of the controller forwhich we have just traced the circuits are in series in each case andthe windings of the phases connected in Y across" the supply-conductors.Reference to Fig. 1.5 will show that in this posit on of the controlleralternate north and south poles, as indicated by N and S, are formed. Inthe next and last position of the controller, contacts D D D are on.line 17 17, contacts t may seem that I-LH lie along line18 18, and Ilies on line 19 19. Circuits can now be traced from supply-conductor- 11to contact 0, thence through contact H, conductor 24, contact D, contactQ, conductor 1.0, motor-terminal 6 and'lead 6 to junction 6. Here thecircuit divides,'onc path leading through winding K,, lead 5",motor-terminal '5 ,'con-' ductor 16, and contact P to I, the other pathleading through winding K to junction 1. From supply-conductor 12 we maytrace'a circuit through contact-O, contact H, conductor 23, contact/D,contact Q, conductor 9, motonterminal 4, lead 4' to path leading throughwinding K '1 and the other through winding on line 18 18,

motor-terminal 3 conductor 15, and contact 'P to I. From'thesupply-conductor 13 circuit can be traced. through contact 0, contact H,conductor 22, contact D, contact Q,- conductor 8, motor-terminal 2,andlead 2 to junction 2, where the circuit divides, one path leadingthrough Winding K tion 1 and the other through winding K conductor 7*,motor-terminal .7, conductor 14, and contact P to I. The windings K K,,and K,, each of which constitutes one half of the winding of one phase,are new connected in Y across the supply-conductors, the junction beingin contact I andthe other halves of the winding K K and K are alsoconnected across the supply-conductor, but are joined at junction 1.Fig. 16 illusjunction 4, Where the circuit divides, one

to unction K ,lead 3 and winding K, to junction 2, thence through tratesthe connections as now established and the relative directions ofcurrent in the wind of the details of construction have a Wideapplication in the controller art. I do not,

therefore, wish to be limited to the appara.

terminal olnmtor 7 thciwcthrough lead '7 tus shown in the drawings.

v with one set of winding-termina What I claiin as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is- 1. The combination ofmultiphase windings, a plurality of terminals for each of said windings,a fixed contact for each of said terminals, multiphasesupply-conductors, a

fixed contact oonnected'to each supply-conductor, movable contactsconstructed and arranged to connect the suppl -contacts with either setof winding-termina contacts.

2.'The combination of multiphase windings, a plurality of terminals foreach of said windings, a fixed contact foreach of said terminals,multiphase supply-conductors, a fixed contact connected to eachsupply-conductor, movable contacts constructed and arranged to connectthe su ply-contacts contacts and connect the other set of saidwindingterminal contacts together.

3. The combinatio'n of ings, multiphase sup 1 stationary contacts avingthe contacts of each row connected to the supply-conductors an'dwindingof one phase, 'rows of movable contacts corresponding to said rows ofstationary contacts each row of said movable contacts movable along andadapted to connect the contacts of a row of said stationary contacts,and other movable contacts adapted to connect contacts lying in apluralitj oi said rows of stationary contacts.

4. In a switching mechanism,

multiphase windrows of stationary contacts, rows of movable contactsings connected in corresponding to said rows of stationary contacts,each row of contacts movable in the plane .of its corres ending row offixed contacts and adapts to connect together stationary contactslying'in the same row, and other movable contacts located so as to movein a plane between adjacent rows of fixed contacts and connect togetherstationary contacts lying in adj acentrows,

5. In a switching mechanism, rows of sta-t tionary contacts, each ofsaid contacts comprising two electrically-connected contact members saced apart, connected movable contacts a apted to enter the s acesbetween said contact members whereb stationary contacts in the same rowmay e connected together, and other movable contacts adapted to passwithout said space and contact with the contact members of thestationary contacts in adjacent rows whereby stationary contacts indifferent rows may be connected together.

6. The combination of multiphase wind- Y, multiphase supply-conductors,rows of stationary contacts, each of said rows containing a contactconnected to the free end of one of said multiphase windings, a contactconnected to the middle point of the same one of said multiphasewindings, and a contact connected to one of said supply-conductors, rowsof movable -conductors, rows of .drical body of insulating materiaI eralfixed contacts, tacts for connecting the adjacent spring memcontactshaving the contacts of one row con.- nected together, said rows ofmovable con tacts movable along said rows of stationary contacts andother movable contacts movin between said rows of stationary contacts,al

of said movable contacts occupying'definite positions in one of which noconnections are made, ductors are connected to said free ends ofwindings, and in still another position said sup ly-conductors areconnected to said mi die of windmgs areponnected together. i

7 The combination of three-phase motorwindings connected in Y,three-phase supply-conductors, rows of stationary contacts, each of saidrows containing a contact connected to the free end of one of saidwindings, a contact connected to the middle point of the same one ofsaid windings and a contact connected to one of said supply-conductors,rows of movable contacts having the contacts of one .row connected'toether, said row of movable contacts movab e along said rows ofstationary contacts and other movable contacts moving between said rowsof stationary occupying definite positions in one-of which noconnections are made, in another said supply-conductors are connected tosaid free ends of windings and in still another (position saidsupply-conductors are connecte to said middle oints of windings andsaid' free ends of windings'are connected together.

8. In acontroller, the combination of a casing comprising twosemi'cylindrical headed portions one of which is provided with anopeningto receive conducjgr s, a semicylinmounted in one ofsaid portionsof the casing, fixed contacts mounted on said insulating-body andcodperating movable contacts mounted on a movable shaft journaled in theheads of the controll'er-casin 9. A controfier-casing comprising twoheaded portions, one of which is provided with an opening toreceiveconductors, a body of insulating material having a concave surfacemounted within one of said portions of the controller-casin fixedcontacts mounted on the concave sur ace of said body of insus latingmaterial, and codperatin movable contacts mounted on a movable s aftjournaled in the heads of the controller-casing.

10. In a controller, the combination offixed contacts, each contactcomprising a plurality e contacts for enof springlmembers, movab espring'members of each of the sevgaging t and other movable conbers ofdifferent contacts.

11. In acontroller, the combination of a row of fixed contacts, eachcontact com rising two sprin members, and a rotatables aft provided witha plurality of sets of cooperatcontacts, all of said movablecontactsoints of windings, and said free ends ing contacts, the contacts of oneset being arranged to engage the two spring members of the several fixedcontacts, and the contacts of another'set being arranged to connect theadjacent spring members of different contacts.

12. The combination of a plurality of insulatingfpieces and a contactcooperating with said insulating-pieces to prevent relative motion.

13. The combination of an insulating-piece having a projection, andanother insulatingpiece having a projection, said projectionscooperating to form a locking-seat for a controller-contact.

14. As an article of manufacture, an insulatingiece having upon one sidea projection adapted to cooperate with a similar projection upon anotherinsulating-piece to form a locking-seat for a controller-contact, andhaving upon the opposite side a similar projection adapted to cooperatewith a similar projection upon still another insulating-piece to form alocking-seat for still another controller-contact.

15. As an article of manufacture, an insulating-piece having aprojection adapted to cooperate with a similar projection upon anotherinsulating-piece to form a locking-seat for a controlle -contact.

16. As an article of manufacture, an insulating-piece having aprojection, said projection having a plurality of sides and adapted tocooperate with a similar projection from anotherinsulating-piece to forma polygon as a locking-seat for a controllcr contact.

1 7. As an article of manufacture, a contact piece for an electricswitch composed of two exactly similar parts, said parts having seatportions adapted to fit closely together and offset contact-portions,said similar parts be-' ing of such conformation asto cooperate withtheir seat to prevent relative movement thereto.

18. The combination of a shaft, a piece rigidly connected thereto, aninsulating-piece on said shaft cooperating with said rigid piece toprevent relative movement,a second piece of insulation cooperating withsaid first 1nsulating-piece in such manner as to prevent relativemovement, a succession of similar insulatingpieces similarly,"cooperating, seats formed by said insulating pieces,contactpiecescooperating with. said seats in such manner as to prevent relativemotion, "a washer adapted to be forced against the last insulating-pieceand thereby'to secure the said contacts and JOHN BRANDON LINN.

projection, said projec- Witnesses:

ALFRED OAVILEER, W. N. ZURFLUH.

insulating-pieces rigidly in -pos1t1on. X

manufacture, an insu-i wlth another projection fromy

